Sunday February 5, 2012 Quarter-final Finished Stade de Franceville

Ghana 2 - 1
AET Tunisia

  • Mensah 10’
  • Ayew 101’
  • Khelifa 42’

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  1. African Cup of Nations - Ghana through to semis

    African Cup of Nations - Ghana through to semis

    Ghana reached the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations after creeping past Tunisia 2-1 in extra-time of a bad-tempered match. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:120'
    • Ghana
    • Tunisia
    • 120+3 Badu has the effort from distance, it's well wide, the referee blows for full time and Ghana have just about done enough. Ghana march on where they will play Zambia in the semi-finals.
    • 120+2 They play the short corner, Msakni beats his man, but ridiculously goes for goal when on the byline and of course hits the side netting.
    • 120+1 Msakni wins the corner deep into stoppage time and this is their chance...
    • 120' Darragi gets the shot off in the area, but half cleared. The follow up is smacked away by Ghana and there will be three minutes of stoppage time!
    • 119' Tunisia have a minute to go, but they still have four men back! Pour forwards surely? They're pushing forward, but not putting the ball in the box!
    • 118' Andre Ayew with a chance to finish the contest, but he scews his shot badly wide.
    • 116' Tagoe does well to win the throw and Jordan Ayew does really well to hold onto the ball. He's taken out, inexplicably no foul. A touch of heads ensues and Ayew pathetically goes down.
    • 115' Jomaa intercepts a loose pass, but Khelifa with a really poor pass over the top for Msakni and it goes out for a goalkick.
    • 113' Good play from Darragi as he twists and turns on the left, but there are just too many defending players packing the area.
    • 112' Annan this time with a reckless one. The referee has completely lost control and there really should be more than one man off here.
    • 111' Another ridiculous challenge from a Tunisia player, they're flying into the Ghanaian's with no thought of winning the ball!
    • 110' Tunisia are losing all discipline here and Ghana are using any excuse to go down. Badu and Chemmam now square off with the Tunisian grabbing his shirt.
    • 109' They're really up against it now, and Ghana will be loving this. Plenty os stoppages and Tunisia down to 10 men.
    • 108' Abdennour is trying to shield the ball and as Ayew comes across he sticks an elbow in his face. After a brief melee the referee brandishes a straight red.
    • 107' The ball comes into the box, it's choas in the box, but the referee blows for a foul. There was nothing there to warrant a foul - bizarre.
    • 106' Extra Time Second Half: Elhassan with a really poor challenge, but it's the defender that comes off worse.
    • 105' The referee blows for half time and it's a quick turnaround as we go into the second half.
    • 104' Such a shame for Mathlouthi that goal. He's probably been the keeper of the tournament so far, but such is the life of a goalie.
    • 103' Jomaa barely touches the goalkeeper and it's a ridiculous reaction to challenge. He looks hurt though, or of course if could be a bit of time wasting.
    • 101' Goal! Ghana 2-1 Tunisia - A poor cross comes deep to the far post, but Mathlouthi inexplicably drops the ball with it in his hands and Andre Ayew slots home into the unguarded net!
    • 100' Ghana substitution: Gyan is replaced by Prince Tagoe.
    • 99' Gyan does well to win the corner and Ghana really need a good delivery now...Andre Ayew takes and it was indeed dangerous. Cleared under his own crossbar by the defender and out though.
    • 98' Boussaidi with an agricultural challenge to clear out for a throw in. It does the job though and Tunisia have it back.
    • 97' Jordan Ayew almost gets to the ball with defender and keeper dithering. The keeper in the end only gets block on it and out.
    • 96' Vorsah gets a toe as the striker gets in behind him and he concedes the corner. Comfortably dealt with though and Ghana break...
    • 95' Really poor play from the left back as he goes for a long range shot that's no where near and gifts Ghana the goalkick.
    • 94' Gyan goes down after a tug, but there wasn't enough for a foul and play carries on with Tunisia now breaking forward.
    • 93' Ghana rocking here as shots are peppered in, but each is blocked and they break quickly...
    • 91' Extra Time: Msakni gets the ball on the edge of the aera, it looks like he might shoot, but he plays a cute ball to Jomaa, who slots between the keeper's legs! But it's called back for offside, and it was the correct decision.
    • 90+3' Jomaa for a second looks like he might get to the ball first, but Kwarasey is on his toes and gets there just in time. The referee blows for time and we go into Extra Time.
    • 90+2' Jordan Ayew wins a freekick and this will probably be Ghana's last chance of the 90 minutes. Gyan goes for the shot and it's a frankly ridiculous decision from so far out. Needless to say it goes miles high and wide.
    • 90+1' Three minutes of stoppage time here and Tunisia will be the happier of the two to take this to extra time.
    • 90' Sakni almost gets the touch past the last man Vorsah, but the defender just about gets there first.
    • 89' Ghana win a throw in high up the pitch, but don't go for the long one. Gyan fails to hold it up and Tunisia break forward.
    • 87' Annan comes in with the second slide challenge with Msakni charging forwards. Msakni goes down like a ton of bricks after getting the slightest of touches on the arm and the ref rightly ignores it.
    • 86' Annan handballs it just outside the Tunisia penalty area and the chance is gone. A decent effort from Tunisia is deflected out for a corner, that was pretty close. It's crunch time now.
    • 85' Msakni is caught by Boye, who is on a yellow card and needs to be careful. Dhaouadi's delievry is straight into the arms of the goalkeeper.
    • 84' Jordan finds Andre Ayew, who fails to play in the overlapping fullback. Jordan Ayew needs to get on the ball more for Ghana, he's their best chance of creating something.
    • 83' Jomaa is the target, but he can't get hold of it. The substitute hasn't been involved at all so far.
    • 82' Tunisia substitution: The injured Ifa is off, Boussaidi on.
    • 81' Ifa is down on the turf and it doesn't look like he'll be able to play on. He takes off his boot and limps off the pitch.
    • 80' Inkoom again dives in late, but the referee plays the advantage. Ghana get it back and the ball is again clipped in to Gyan from Badu, just a little too much on it and the keeper has it.
    • 79' Corner by Dhaouadi is flicked away with ease, and Kwarasey gets hold of the following throw in.
    • 78' They fire in the shot, it's going well wide, but Vorsah doesn't take the risk and heads it behind.
    • 77' Badu gets the yellow card for blocking off Msakni. Correct call from the ref and this is a central set piece, but a long way from goal.
    • 76' Mathlouthi again has to make a save and once again it's Jordan Ayew who's making the difference.
    • 75' Asamoah dinks a lovely ball over to Gyan and his shot is arrowed towards the far corner. Mathlouthi plunges to his right and it's a tremendous save!
    • 74' Good pace again from Asamoah wins another corner. The ball is deep and Andre Ayew heads well over the bar.
    • 73' Andre Ayew whips in a couple of dangerous corners, the goalkeeper both time punching as the ball was whipped in towards goal.
    • 72' Jordan Ayew with a nice step over and a dangerous cross that's headed up and over the bar for a corner.
    • 71' Saihi picks the ball up following the corner and hits a decent effort that deflects out for another corner. Game is picking up now.
    • 70' Another bone crunching tackle from Boye as he jumps in on Khelifa. He wins it well, but it was borderline reckless.
    • 69' Badu with a pot shot from distance but blocked. Tunisia substitution: Saihi is off for Jomaa.
    • 68' The pace just isn't really quick enough from either side. The game's begging to be won, but neither side look like they want to take it.
    • 67' Annan on for Ayew and he dribbles at pace and goes down. He thinks it's a foul, but again the ref doesn't agree.
    • 65' J Ayew into Gyan, who turns his marker and has a shot from the edge of the area that goes wide. Ayew was powering into the area though and he should have layed him in.
    • 64' Msakni drives upfield with real purpose until Annan steps across. It's a good challenge, but the ref doesn't agree.
    • 63' Ghana substitution: The underwhelming Muntari is off for Jordan Ayew.
    • 62' Khelifa picks the ball up and plays into Msakni in the area. He waits for Dhaouadi to dart into the box, but his lofted ball lacks height and it's cleared.
    • 61' Asamoah's cross and Badu has a free header from eight yards. It's a difficult one, because he has to flick it on rather than redirect it and it's straight into the keeper's arms.
    • 60' The other quarter today went to extra time and penalties. These sides only have half an hour to prevent at least extra time.
    • 59' Ayew cuts onto his left foot and hooks in a cross from the right. It's cleared and Asamoah takes a shot from distance; it's woefully bad.
    • 58' Gyan loses out in a battle with Abdennour, who has had the better of him for most of the night.
    • 56' Tunisia have the freekick, but they don't pump it in. At least right away; they play back to the keeper and then pump it forward.
    • 53' Haggui and Ifa go up for the same ball and there's a clash of heads. Ifa comes off worse, but it looks as if he'll be ok.
    • 52' Ghana substitution: And Mensah has been forced off. He's replaced by Isaac Vorsah.
    • 51' It's a late one from Saihi on Mensah as the central defender goes to clear and gets caught on the ankle. That's another yellow card challenge, though not sure it's been shown.
    • 50' Alhassan goes in for the 50-50 against Dhaouadi, who doesn't like it. It was a fair enough challenge though.
    • 49' Boye mops up for the Ghanains and plays cooly to Mensah. There's a tangle between Gyan and Ifa, but the ref unusually gives nothing.
    • 48' There's no flow to this game as the referee keeps on blowing his whistle. All a bit stop-start.
    • 46' Ghana take KO and get it forward early. All a bit static from their forward men though.
    • 45+2' Alhassan shephards the ball out for a goal kick and that's the last action of the half. Not a great game so far, but a couple of goals and a very even game. The second should be interesting.
    • 45+1' Msakni tries to get forward, but is prevented from driving down the line by Inkoom. Two minutes of stoppage time...
    • 45' Saihi loops the ball in and it's pretty easily cleared. Play is pulled back for a Ghana freekick after the advantage comes to nothing.
    • 44' Dhaouadi with an instant piece of control and he wins the corner as his cross is blocked.
    • 43' Khelifa was hurt in scoring that goal though. He's back on the pitch, but is still hobbling about.
    • 42' Goal! Ghana 1-1 Tunisia - Khelifa pulls on to the back of Inkoom and heads Dhaouadi's cross down into the bottom corner. Good goal, Tunisia have been getting back into this.
    • 41' Gyan with another bit of trickery, but again he slips and the ball is gone. The pitch must be pretty greasy as players keep on slipping at the moment.
    • 40' Msakni with a poor piece of control, or rather a lack of it as he lets the ball under his foot and out for a throw.
    • 39' Boye comes across to prevent Khelifa from advancing any further. Saihi goes for an ambitious attempt from 25 yards and it's no where near.
    • 38' Haggui clears with Gyan again chasing the long ball over the top. It's not worked particularly well so far today, but this is how Ghana play.
    • 37' Inkoom's cross, Ayew's header, but he is pretty far out and it's well off target. Would have taken a Drogba-esque header to score from there.
    • 36' Gyan with a clever attempt in for Ayew as he tries to bend a pass behind the retreating defence. Good positioning from Abdennour though and it's away.
    • 34' Tunisia try another straight ball in behind the defence for Khelifa, but Ghana are at the moment very comfortable.
    • 33' Gyan tries to trick his way past the defender on the byline, but it doesn't quite come off and Tunisia can break.
    • 32' Haggui picks up a yellow for a pretty innocuous challenge. Ghana freekick about 40 yards from goal...
    • 31' Gyan flicks the ball over his marker, then on the volley from 25 yards hits a tame shot into the keeper's arms.
    • 30' Tunisia take a freekick quickly and Khelifa goes down under a challenge after getting behind Inkoom. The referee doesn't give anything, but that looked suspiciously like a penalty.
    • 29' The flick on isn't expected by Gyan and he's caught offside by about a yard or so when he looks to pull the trigger.
    • 28' Boye is clattered round the head as he turns inside. Again that would be a yellow in other competitions, but not here seemingly.
    • 27' Asamoah gets to the long punt up field first, but Tunisia win it back. It's all a little congested in midfield at the moment.
    • 26' Muntari twists and turns, but he's crowded out. Kwarasey charges out and just gets there before Msakni. The ball deflects off the striker and out for a throw.
    • 25' Chemmam steps up, but it's almost as bad as Ayew, except he hasn't got the excuse of slipping.
    • 24' Now Tunisia have a freekick in a very similar position as Dhaouadi is felled by Boye, who picks up a yellow.
    • 23' Ayew completely slips as he goes to shoot and his standing foot hits the ball first. It loops out for a goal kick.
    • 22' Muntari lays the ball of beautifully for Gyan, but the striker slips as he goes to shoot. Freekick to Ghana 20 yards from goal...
    • 21' Why is Gyan number three? Answers in the comments section if anyone knows...
    • 20' Haggui's climbing over his man illegally and the foul is given. The ball goes straight up the other end and Gyan very nearly gets on the end of it.
    • 19' Dhaouadi is fouled half way inside Ghana's half. The set piece is fired in and it comes off Mensah's head last and out for a corner.
    • 18' Corner in by Ayew abd the flick at the near post sails just wide of the far post. Tunisia look very weak from set pieces.
    • 17' The cross is fired in towards Gyan, but it's slightly behind the striker and he can't get anything on it.
    • 15' Mensah looks authoritative at the back as he plays back to Kwarasey. Saihi with studs showing as he goes in for the challenge and it's a foul.
    • 14' Gyan is penalised for a foul as he chases after the long ball. Tunisia waste the chance to get forward though as a crossfield pass is badly over hit.
    • 13' A ball is clipped over the top for Khelifa, but calm defending from Boye as he chests back to his goalkeeper.
    • 12' Traoui's delivery isn't great and the foul is drawn, Asamoah getting the call in what looked to be a bit of a 50-50.
    • 11' Khelifa has a second bite at the cherry as he goes for the shot. Again blocked and out for a throw.
    • 10' Goal! Ghana 1-0 Tunisia - Mensah is in the right place as the corner is whipped into the near post. There's a flick to the back post and the big defender heads into the far corner.
    • 9' Alhassan does well to break away from his marker, the cross eventually comes in and it's the first corner of the match, gone to Ghana.
    • 8' Chemmam darts down the left and plays inside, but the move breaks down.
    • 6' Tunisia pump it long, but it's easily cleared by the Ghana defence. Badu loses the ball out on the right and Ragued sends a long ball up to Khelifa.
    • 5' Ghana look very pumped up, possibly overly so. Tunisia have beem the better of the two so far, and Mathlouthi demonstrates the point as he tricks his way past the striker!
    • 4' The grass on the pitch looks to be pretty long, not good for a passing game. Boye comes in with a thumping challenge and out for a throw.
    • 3' Badu catches Saihi nastily. It's the Ghanain that appears to be hurt thoug. Seriously, in the Premier League, that would be a red. Here, no one's batting an eye lid.
    • 1' Tunisia get the match under way in what is a pretty poorly attended match. Looks about a fifth full at best.
    • 18:55 Tunisia have not gone past the quarter finals since 2004, but they say they've been inspired by the revolution in their country last year. Trabelsi the Tunisia coach said: "We have the quality to go on in this competition. We are motivated because we want to represent Tunisian football very well at a time of rebuilding of the various sectors of our country."
    • 18:50 Ghana take on Tunisia in what is the only quarter-final tie that has pitted two former champions against one another. Ghana though have been waiting for the past 30 years to win it again, and they haven't particularly impressed so far.
    • 18:45 Referee: Alioum Neant (Cameroon).
    • 18:40 Tunisia: 16-Aymen Mathlouthi; 20-Aymen Abdennour, 3-Karim Haggui, 2-Bilel Ifa, 12-Khelil Chammem; 6-Hocine Ragued, 21-Jamel Saihi, 14-Mejdi Traoui, 15-Zouhair Dhaouadi, 7-Youssef Msakni; 19-Saber Khlifa
    • 18:35 Ghana: 16-Adam Kwarasey; 7-Samuel Inkoom, 21-John Boye, 5-John Mensah, 14-Masawudu Alhassan; 6-Anthony Annan, 8-Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, 10-Dede Ayew, 20-Kwadwo Asamoah; 11-Sulley Muntari, 3-Asamoah Gyan
    • 18:30 Ghana, 2010 runners-up, face 2004 winners Tunisia in the final African Cup of Nations quarter-final in Franceville.

  • Summary

    • 108' Abdennour is trying to shield the ball and as Ayew comes across he sticks an elbow in his face. After a brief melee the referee brandishes a straight red.
    • 101' Goal! Ghana 2-1 Tunisia - A poor cross comes deep to the far post, but Mathlouthi inexplicably drops the ball with it in his hands and Andre Ayew slots home into the unguarded net!
    • 75' Asamoah dinks a lovely ball over to Gyan and his shot is arrowed towards the far corner. Mathlouthi plunges to his right and it's a tremendous save!
    • 61' Asamoah's cross and Badu has a free header from eight yards. It's a difficult one, because he has to flick it on rather than redirect it and it's straight into the keeper's arms.
    • 42' Goal! Ghana 1-1 Tunisia - Khelifa pulls on to the back of Inkoom and heads Dhaouadi's cross down into the bottom corner. Good goal, Tunisia have been getting back into this.
    • 18' Corner in by Ayew abd the flick at the near post sails just wide of the far post. Tunisia look very weak from set pieces.
    • 10' Goal! Ghana 1-0 Tunisia - Mensah is in the right place as the corner is whipped into the near post. There's a flick to the back post and the big defender heads into the far corner.
    • 18:40 Tunisia: 16-Aymen Mathlouthi; 20-Aymen Abdennour, 3-Karim Haggui, 2-Bilel Ifa, 12-Khelil Chammem; 6-Hocine Ragued, 21-Jamel Saihi, 14-Mejdi Traoui, 15-Zouhair Dhaouadi, 7-Youssef Msakni; 19-Saber Khlifa
    • 18:35 Ghana: 16-Adam Kwarasey; 7-Samuel Inkoom, 21-John Boye, 5-John Mensah, 14-Masawudu Alhassan; 6-Anthony Annan, 8-Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, 10-Dede Ayew, 20-Kwadwo Asamoah; 11-Sulley Muntari, 3-Asamoah Gyan

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Ghana

    Manager: Goran Stevanovic

  • Tunisia

    Manager: Sami Trabelsi

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.8 -
      Defenders
      7.3 -
      Yellow Card 6.5 -
      Goal Substitution Out53′ 7.7 -
      7 -
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card 6.2 -
      Yellow Card 9 -
      Goal 8.9 -
      Substitution Out64′ 8 -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out100′ 8 -
      7.3 -
      Subs
      Substitution In100′ 6.5 -
      Substitution In53′ 6.8 -
      Substitution In64′ 8.8 -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.4 -
      Defenders
      Substitution Out82′ 7.3 -
      Yellow Card 4.8 -
      Red Card 8 -
      7 -
      Midfielders
      4.8 -
      4.2 -
      Substitution Out69′ 5.2 -
      8.2 -
      Strikers
      Goal 7 -
      Substitution Out105′ 7.8 -
      Subs
      Substitution In82′ 6.8 -
      Substitution In69′ 5.8 -
      Substitution In105′ 6.8 -

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